The invention discloses a supported ruthenium catalyst and a preparation method thereof. The preparation method is characterized in that the preparation method comprises the following steps: 1, preprocessing a carrier with a soluble alkaline earth metal salt, wherein the mass of the soluble alkaline earth metal salt accounts for 0.1-20% of the mass of the carrier; and 2, dipping the alkaline earth metal salt processed carrier with a material which comprises a primary active component metallic ruthenium and an assisted catalytic component comprising one or several of Ni, Co, Pd and Pt, wherein the mass of the primary component metallic ruthenium accounts for 0.1-5% of the carrier, and the mass of the secondary component comprising one or several of Ni, Co, Pd and Pt accounts for 0.01-5% of the mass of the carrier. The catalyst of the invention is mainly applied to the selective hydrogenation process of an aromatic ring of an aromatic compound, wherein the aromatic ring of the aromatic compound has at least one alkyl group, one ester group, one hydroxyl group or an amino group and also has at least one C1-8 alkyl group. Compared with catalysts prepared with the prior art, the catalyst of the invention has the advantages of low cost, simple preparation method, high activity, good selectivity, high safety in the operation of the aromatic ring hydrogenation, realization of the operation of the aromatic ring hydrogenation under a low pressure, and good economy.